Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
Fruit Flavouring/Water Flavouring
Hi I'm new to this and this is my first post so please be gentle. After deciding that most beer nowadays is over priced and tasteless when you go down the local supermarket i decided that i would invest in a homebrewing kit and give it a go so not long back i purchased a Coopers Microbrewery lager starter kit. I followed the instructions made my first brew and had good results i ended up having a bit of a house party and me and a few mates managed to finish off this brew and enjoyed it so i moved onto my second the other day i used the coopers IPA and added some golding hops which is now fermenting. Whilst in the local homebrew shop i decided to ask for some ideas as i have been thinking of adding some fruit flavourings. So i'm already looking ahead to my next brew which may be slightly stupid as i have one on the go but i was wondering on peoples thoughts on this as i am total beginner and i need some direction. The man i spoke to suggested trying the water flavourings he had on sale which seem simple so would seem a good idea but could anyone help please. Bare in mind i am really new to this. Thanks guys
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Member
We're always gentle on here!
There are some fruit flavourings here
[url=http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/ingredients/ingredientsadditives.html?limit=all]null
It's something I've always meant to do but never have - Greg on here will steer you right with quantities etc - if you go for real fruit though, it can take a shed load. As far as water flavourings are concerned, I take it that the bloke in your LHBS meant water treatment?
That's a biggie, most of on here have from time to time dabbled in water treatment but to be honest, I've never really seem much difference - and it's not an easy thing to do. I'd leave that for a while if I were you, look into extract brewing and partial mashing... that's the best way to improve flavours - and then go all-grain
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Throwing something else into the mix, you could tart up your kit.
Steep some grains (in a muslin bag) in a few litres of water at 65 - 70C for half an hour, maybe 150g of Crystal malt. Then make up the kit as normal and add about 15g of your Goldings (also in a muslin bag) simmer for 15 minutes then you could add some more hops when you turn the heat off and let it stand for 20 minutes.
The grains will darken the beer and change the flavour, you can steep Crystal Malt, Carapils, Carahell, Roasted Barley, Chocolate Malt, Black Malt, Crystal Wheat, Crystal Rye, Roasted Rye, Chocolate Wheat.
Perhaps alter the gravity by adding more dried malt extract.
Fermenting: Marynka pseudo-lager
Maturing/Conditioning:
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Cheers guys i've been doing alot of reading on extract and partial mash lately as well as what hop's etc do what and i know theres no thing like trying it yourself so i thought i'd dig about for a few helpful pointers from experianced brewers as i don't really wanna shell out a fortune and just end up with a mess
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Also Tony this is the sort of stuff from my LHBS http://www.homebrewmegastore.co.uk/shop/water-treatment/peach-water-flavouring.html I wondered how hard these things are to use?
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Interesting ... never seen anything like that before and considering that he sells nothing but kits, it would be helpful if there were some guidelines as to how to use it.
Sorry, can't help you with that one! Maybe it's where badger get their peach taste!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Member
yeah thats the place where my LHBS sells from so i could ask him in store but i just thought i'd get some views off some neutrals as thats his line of business so he may try and sell me something i dont need but i may give it a go as my aim is to develope an easy to make brew by august as i will be the main supply of drink for my group of friends at v music festival but he has give me some useful tips so far so i'll keep you updated on how it goes also i checked my Coopers IPA today and despite only starting primary fermention saturday my hydrometer meetings indicate it's ready for secondary any help on this as this surely can't be right...
Reply
You must log in to post.